The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-05-06
EDITOR TELEGRAPH.

memory of Calhoun.
EDITOR TELEGRAPH.
FAIRMoNT, NEB., April 20, 1887.
l write you from wonderful Nebraska
wonderful in extent, wonderful in
progress, wonderful in richness of soil,
wonderful in material realizations, and
much more in reasonable possibilities.
l doubt whether, in the history of state
growth, any state in the Union can show
a greater advance in material resources,
educational advantages and whatever
else marks the progress of advanced
growth in statehood than can be shown
by Nebraska in the last five years. +"
I have lived in this place five years,
and have seen changes so marked and
seemingly unparalleled that the whole
truth concerning progress in all desira-
able lines would be somewhat stronger
than the average Wisconsiner could
bear, and perhaps it might be said, 81 the
further west they go, the bigger yarns
they tell"
l will state some facts that have come
under my own observation.
The prices of all lands have increased
one hundred per cent within five years.
AT that time more than one-half the
farmers were in doubt as to final sue
cess i'll agriculture, and very many were
DESTROYS Of leaving the country and 90
ing, as they called it, "To Gods land"
The best farmers, those who do things
as they ought to be done, and when they
ought to be done, have raised an average
corn crop Of fifty bushels per acre the
last five years. | have interviewed some
of the most reliable farmers on this
point, and get this information.
Nebraska has passed through the
same painful financial experiences with
regard to wheat raising that were so
ruinous to Wisconsin farmers thirty
years ago, and is learning valuable les
sons thereby.
This is essentially corn-raising, and
a beef and producing state.
Some of the finest herds of blooded
stock in the country are owned here.
j. 0. Chase, President of the First
National Bank, of Fairmont, has stock
farm, one mile from this place, of over
one thousand acres, and has herd of
extra cattle, justly celebrated among the
best stock men as one of the best herds
in the country.
One of the strongest evidences of our
material growth is the confidence that
Eastern capital has in farm investments.
New York, Boston and other Eastern
centers of capital are loaning very large
ly at from six to seven per cent.
One large company at Ashland, in
this state, says it has larger demand
for six and seven per cent bonds. in New
York than it can supply.
Several cities-Omaha, Lincoln, Hast
ings and others-are growing beyond all
former expectations. Railroads are
striving with one another, each endeayor-
ing to make some desirable point in adj
vance of the other.
This county-Fillmore-seems likely
to outstrip all others of like size in miles
of railroad. There will be completed, as
soon as December LIST, and probably be-
fore that time, about one hundred and
forty miles, and reasonable prospect of
more to follow"
An approximate census of Lincoln
shows a population of nearly forty thou
sands.
This place is having a growth SO phe-
nomenal that the most ardent dreams of
its most hopeful friends are more than
realized, and yet the rush for property
is as great as ever. This is largely due
to the fact that enterprise and unity
prevail among all its business men.
Whenever railroad asks for fifty or
seventy-five thousand dollars for going
through Lincoln, the universal exclama-
ton is, Come on, gentlemen, and your
money is ready"
If a University is to be built where the
most money can be raised, Lincoln bids
three hundred thousand dollars and gets
the school, as in the case ofthe Wesleyan
University just located there. A belt
line railroad is Just preparing to encircle
the city. Packing houses are being es-
tablished IN West Lincoln, and the prices
paid for hogs have been within Is or IS
cents of Chicago market, but time, paper
and ink would fail to tell how the boon,
boon1eth.
A medical friend of the writer, from
Bristol, Wisconsin, visited this place
three years since, and talked of puying
FIVE acre tract of land in Lincoln, for
sale at that time for 81 ,000 He would
be surprised to know that its present
value is, at least, fifteen thousand. How
narrow the doctors escape from being
" bloated bondholder."
This city (Fairmont) has been strug-
Cling nearly two years with the alter
problem, and has finally, as the miners
say, Struck it rich" Over two hun
dred feet below the surface deep layer
of coarse gravel was struck, saturated
with water as pure as the nectar of the
gods, as clear as the ripping mountain
brook, as soft as the dews that gently
distill from heaven, and as inexhausti-
bic as the fountains Of the great deep.
This is conducted through the city by
several miles of wire-wound, tar-covered
wooden pipes, from large tank holding
about one thousand barrels. Another
tank on top of the tower, one hundred
feet high, and kept filled, affords ample
security in case of fire.
Railroad trains arrive and depart from
five different directions, giving the en-
tire eartn perfect communicati ton with
this place.
The telephone also fourishes beyond
any other place Of same size in the state,
having fifty wires already, and constant.
~ increasing.